Asian Para Games: India Scripts History with Record 114 Medals, Including 30 Gold

The curtains will come down on the fifth Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, today, bringing the continental sporting event to a close. India has delivered its best-ever performance at the Games, finishing with a record haul of 114 medals, including 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze.

Double gold medallists Nishad Kumar and Mona Agarwal will serve as India’s flag-bearers at the closing ceremony, scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time. Both athletes secured two gold medals each in their respective disciplines.

Nishad Kumar scripted history by winning gold medals in the men’s high jump and long jump in the T47 category. With this achievement, he joined para-runner Ankur Dhama and armless archer Sheetal Devi among the Indian athletes who have won two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games.

Meanwhile, Mona Agarwal also delivered an outstanding performance, winning two gold medals. She clinched gold in the women’s 10-metre air rifle standing SH1 event with a Games record. She followed it up with another gold in the women’s 50-metre rifle three positions SH1 event, setting a world record.

India’s medal tally received a significant boost on the final day, with athletes from para-badminton, archery and shooting contributing to the country’s gold medal count.

In a notable development, para-athletics was not India’s leading source of gold medals for the first time at these Games, reflecting the country’s growing strength across multiple sporting disciplines.

India’s record-breaking campaign surpassed its previous best performance at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, where the country won 108 medals, comprising 27 gold, 32 silver and 49 bronze.

With 114 medals, including 30 gold, India has concluded its campaign with its most successful performance in the history of the Asian Para Games, marking a significant milestone for Indian para-sports.